basic digital cameras: which one is the best of these three?

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SkinnyJoe

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Thanks. :)

Canon Powershot A495

Sony DSCS 2100

Nikon Coolpix L22


They're all the same price.
 
I have 2 Nikon Coolpix L22's in my home. One for my wife and one for my daughter. They are very easy to use and take great pics. Battery life is very good. I did about 3 weeks of research before choosing this camera. It received many great reviews and I like the macro feature. I can get in as close as 2 inches and it takes clear precise pics.
 
I don't know much about the other brands, I'm sure they are nice and can get the job done.

I do however have 2 Canon Powershot cameras and love them both.

Never had an issue.
 
I'm no photographer, so you can decide for yourself if these are what you'd consider "good enough" from an inexpensive P&S.
All the photos, except one taken with a Canon DSLR w/wide angle lens, in the threads I will link to are untouched(as you can tell by looking at the date stamps, whose appearance changes with modification to the pic).
They were taken with a Nikon L20, the 10MP predecessor of the L22, in auto or landscape mode. Pics in later threads I posted gradually got worse, as the camera was submerged a few times, and dried out in the oven, and eventually beaten to death from misuse. I replaced it with a Pentax W90 that has taken occasional and individual pics as good, but getting them was a struggle, often requiring lots of finagling with manual settings, and multiple attempts at the same pics.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=723251
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=725368
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=734688
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=736655
 
they are all fine cameras from quality manufacturers who are not known for selling junk.

any of them will serve you well. just pick based on ergonomics (which one feels "right" in YOUR hands?) &/or price.
 
I think it'd behoove you to know the limitations of these cameras. These are all Point and Shoot cameras. They're made to do just that. They're cheap but easy. However, you'll be limited. In your case, there aren't any manual modes for you to adjust the settings on your photos. In some cases, that can be good. However, you'll be relying on your camera's programming to take pictures for you under all situations.

Having said that, here's some of the advantages for each of the cameras. Pick the one that best fits you

Canon Powershot A495

• 37 - 122mm (35mm equiv)
This lens would be great for taking landscape photos. I'm pleasantly surprised to see this in a sub $100 camera

• F3.0-5.8
Decent aperture. That's the type of aperture I'd expect from a camera in this price range. This basically screams "Don't take photos in low light"

• ISO sensitivity up to 1600
ISO just tells you how sensitive your camera can be to low light levels. The higher the number, the more sensitive it will become to light

• Scene modes:
There are a lot of them. I really like how there's a setting for fireworks. Perhaps one of these will serve you well one day.

•Weight (no batt) 135 g (4.8 oz)
A bit on the heavier side for these types of cameras. If you're going to EDC it, carry it closer to your waist so the weight is better distributed.

•Dimensions 94x 62 x 31 mm

Info taken from:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10010503canona490_a495.asp



Sony DSC-S2100

• 35mm - *
Couldn't find this info

• F 3.1 - 5.6
Practically the same as the Canon. Same advantages/disadvantages apply

• ISO up to 3200
A full step higher than the Canon. While I wouldn't recommend taking a photo at this ISO, it's worth it if you want to preserve that memory.

• Scene Modes
Sony lists something called a twilight mode. I assume that's similar if not the same as Canon's fireworks mode.

• Weight 4.8oz. (137g)
Same comments apply from Canon

• Dimensions 97.6mm x 61.0mm x 27.2mm

Info taken from: (I love it when manufacturers give this much info on their products!)
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666073319



Nikon Coolpix L22 Definitely don't get this one. The aperture is horrible compared to the other two and it's ridiculously heavy

• 37-134mm
Very Similar to the Canon. Same comments apply

• F 3.1-6.7
Ouch! That's horrible when compared to the other two.

• ISO up to 1600
Same comments apply

• Scene Modes
Couldn't find info

• Weight 183 g (6.5 oz)
With all due respect, you're a bloody idiot if you EDC a camera this heavy. Carry a decent cameraphone instead!

• Dimensions 97.7 x 60.5 x 28.3 mm

Info taken from:
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_coolpix_l22_review/specifications/




Hopefully this helps. Feel free to reply back to this thread if you have any other queries
 
ICSK said:
• Weight 183 g (6.5 oz)
With all due respect, you're a bloody idiot if you EDC a camera this heavy.
Click to expand...

i edc a Nikon D700+ grip, SB-900, 20-35mm f2.8, 35-70mm f2.8 and a 105mm f2.8 VR macro (this replaced the 80-200mm f2.8), the whole bag comes in at just north of 7kg (or nearly AUD$3,000/kg).

am i an idiot?
 
sambo. said:
i edc a Nikon D700+ grip, SB-900, 20-35mm f2.8, 35-70mm f2.8 and a 105mm f2.8 VR macro (this replaced the 80-200mm f2.8), the whole bag comes in at just north of 7kg (or nearly AUD$3,000/kg).

am i an idiot?
Click to expand...

Nah that was just my lame attempt at humor. I couldn't help but feel that all my specs were boring so I tried to make it funny. That's a beautiful camera and lens you've got there.
 
My last three or four cameras have been Canons- easy to use, lots of features (though I usually leave it on Auto) and great (& I mean amazingly good) pictures. Every time I do all the comparison shopping and check all the reviews, the Canons have won.

That's my vote.
 
ICSK said:
Nah that was just my lame attempt at humor. I couldn't help but feel that all my specs were boring so I tried to make it funny.
Click to expand...
:P

ICSK said:
That's a beautiful camera and lens you've got there.
Click to expand...

thanks. mind you, it has to put food on my table, fuel in the car and a roof over my head.

and pay for the 200mm/f2.0 and the D3s i'm about to order....
 
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